Bond set at $15,000 for Bradenton teacher charged with attacking student

The Manatee County School District has placed Horizons Academy teacher Colby Cadwell on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation of allegations that he threw a 13-year-old student to the ground and then physically threw him out of a classroom.

BRADENTON ­-- A judge has set bond at $15,000 for a Horizons Academy teacher charged with throwing a 13-year-old student to the ground and then then physically throwing him out of class earlier this week.

If he makes bond, Cadwell will be on supervised release and barred from the Horizons campus until the case against him is resolved.

Cadwell was arrested Thursday outside his home, charged with child abuse in the Tuesday incident. Before his first appearance in court Friday afternoon, he had been in jail without bond.

"We got the case yesterday morning," Manatee County Sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow said Thursday. "We had him arrested about 24 hours later through witness account of what happen, a video that showed a portion of the incident, but that was quite revealing and, of course, an interview with the victim."

Bristow said the sheriff's office has a strong case.

Within hours of the arrest the Manatee County School Board stated its position.

"Based on school district policy, teacher Colby Cadwell has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office," Superintendent Rick Mills said in a prepared statement.

"As is our practice, the Manatee School District will not initiate any investigation until law enforcements' investigation is concluded."

Cadwell, 31, is a teacher at the alternative school at 1910 27th St. E. that has a stated mission to assist students in identifying and learning to cope and overcome academic and behavioral challenges in order to become functional members of the school district and community.

According to the sheriff's office, the incident was reported to the school principal who reported it to the school resource deputy. The department assigned a detective to the case whose investigation prompted the arrest.

"The investigation revealed that the victim flinched at another student like he might hit the student," the sheriff's office reported.

"At that time, Cadwell grabbed the victim/student, threw him to the floor, then picked him up and physically threw him out of the classroom."

According to Mills, the safety and security of the students remains the highest priority, but accused employees must also be treated fairly.

"We are also committed to treating our school district employees fairly to ensure they are afforded all due process rights when accused of any crime," Mills said.

Cadwell has a history of violence, according to court reports.

In February 2008, his then-wife was granted a temporary protection order against Cadwell for domestic violence involving minor children, according to court records.

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